In Good Hands

Even With His Arm Numb, Harris' Steady Grip Gives Hurricanes Leverage For Emotional Victory Over Seminoles

September 9, 2009|By Shandel Richardson Staff Writer

TALLAHASSEE — University of Miami tackle Jason Fox could only shake his head in amazement.

As he made his way from the locker room following Monday night's 38-34 victory at then-No. 18 Florida State, he was asked one last question about the performance of sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris.

Fox simply shrugged his shoulders before offering this:

"He's never nervous," Fox said. "I don't even know how. I'm a fourth-year guy and I get nervous."

Harris had one of the best games in school history, leading the now No. 20 Hurricanes to the upset of the Seminoles, who fell out of the rankings after the loss. He completed 21 of 34 passes for a career-high 386 yards and two touchdowns. The yards were the most by a UM quarterback since Ken Dorsey threw for 422 against West Virginia in 2002. The teams combined for 43 first downs and 880 yards.

"My high school coach, Christopher Perkins, told me if the defense gives up 98 points, we've got to score 99," Harris said after rallying the Hurricanes from a nine-point second-half deficit.

A chunk of the performance came after Harris took a big hit in the fourth quarter that left his right arm numb. He was hurt when FSU safety Greg Reid crashed into him as he threw a pass. The deflected throw was intercepted by John I. Leonard alum Markus White, who returned it 31 yards for a touchdown that put FSU ahead 31-24 with 11:45 left in the game.

"I couldn't feel anything," Harris said. "That's why I went to the sideline. The whole right side of my arm was numb."

With the game slipping away in front of a national audience, Harris continued to display poise that has helped him win over teammates despite this being only his third career start. He responded to the interception by leading the Hurricanes (1-0) on a 10-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown to Graig Cooper tie the score at 31.

After Harris' counterpart, Christian Ponder, led FSU (0-1) to a field goal, the comeback was completed when Harris drove UM 59 yards for the winning score. The drive included Harris connecting with sophomore receiver Travis Benjamin for a 40-yard pass that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Cooper.

"He was never nervous, never yelling," Benjamin said of Harris. "He's always calm. ... If the quarterback is calm, it doesn't make any sense to be nervous."

The victory should take pressure off the Hurricanes, who open the season against four teams ranked in the preseason. A solid start looks more promising after Monday's performance and the possibility of facing Oklahoma on Oct. 3 without Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford, who injured his shoulder in the Sooners' opening loss to Brigham Young.

But before looking ahead, they'd prefer to enjoy this victory a little more.

"I'm so proud of everybody on my team," Fox said. "This win is unbelievable. Words can't express how good I felt when the final seconds ticked off the clock."